Controversy Clouds the International Circus Festival of Las Vegas

StageLync: While Europe boasts a long history of prestigious competition-style circus festivals—some running for over four decades and showcasing exceptional talent year after year —North America has struggled to carve out its own equivalent.

The circus, elevated

Performance | santafenewmexican.com: The centerpiece of Cirque Mechanics’ new touring production, Zephyr: A Whirlwind of Circus, is a 20-foot windmill. Chris Lashua, creative director and co-founder of the circus, likes to build such things. This windmill is also a portable crane on a pillar, designed as a base for various feats of daring by the acrobats in the show.

German Circus Uses Holograms Instead of Live Animals

Nerdist: In 2019, Circus Roncalli out of Germany stopped using wild animals in its shows. They were just the latest of many troupes to make that decision. Even the now-defunct Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus began to phase elephants out of its own performances starting in 2015. But thanks to modern technology, you can still create an amazing spectacle even without mistreating innocent creatures.

World's top circus festival adapts to COVID-19 rules

CNA: It’s been a tough year for the performing arts in most countries, with virus lockdowns canceling shows and shuttering venues. But the world's top circus festival has found a way to flourish between the cracks in the rules — even without the huge crowds that would normally have attended.

As the curtain falls on Cirque du Soleil, our circus industry is under threat

thenewdaily.com.au: As the curtain falls on Cirque du Soleil, Australia’s internationally renowned circus arts industry is also under threat.

On Tuesday it was revealed that Canada’s iconic Cirque du Soleil would slash 3500 jobs and file for bankruptcy, with the coronavirus pandemic blamed for the cuts.

The Montreal-based outfit will lay off 95 per cent of staff, and seek to restructure.